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J Bild Therapy
Last updated: 13/06/2026

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This privacy notice explains how I collect, use, store and protect personal information in my therapy practice.

 

I am Joel Bild, a BACP-accredited integrative therapist/psychotherapist working in person, online and outdoors. I am the data controller for personal information I collect through J Bild Therapy.

This means I am responsible for deciding how personal information is used and for keeping it safe.

 

If you have any questions about this privacy notice, or about how your information is handled, you can contact me at:

Email: joelbild@gmail.com
Phone: 07894443407
Website: www.jbildtherapy.com

This privacy notice applies to people who contact me about therapy, current and former clients, and visitors to my website.

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Information I collect

I may collect and use the following information.

When you contact me, I may collect:

• your name

• your email address

• your phone number

• the information you choose to share in your enquiry

• any preferences around contact, availability or therapy format

 

If we arrange an initial call or begin therapy, I may also collect:

• your address

• your date of birth

• your GP details

• emergency contact details, where appropriate

• relevant health, mental health or wellbeing information

• information about your personal history, relationships, work, identity, family, circumstances and reasons for seeking therapy

• brief clinical notes

• attendance, payment and appointment information

• correspondence between us

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Some of this information may be classed as special category data under UK data protection law. This includes information about health, mental health, sexuality, ethnicity, religion or other sensitive areas where these are relevant to therapy.

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I only collect information that is necessary for providing therapy safely, ethically and professionally.

 

How I use your information

I use your personal information to:

• respond to enquiries

• arrange initial calls and appointments

• provide therapy

• keep appropriate clinical records

• manage payments, invoices and appointments

• communicate with you about sessions

• meet legal, professional and ethical responsibilities

• manage risk, safeguarding or emergency situations where necessary

• maintain insurance, tax and accounting records

• respond to data protection requests or complaints

 

I do not sell your personal information.

 

Lawful basis for using your information

Under UK GDPR, I need a lawful basis for using personal information.

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For most therapy-related information, my lawful basis is likely to be one or more of the following:

• contract: where information is needed to arrange and provide therapy

• legitimate interests: where I need to use information to run my practice safely, respond to enquiries, keep appropriate records and protect both you and me

• legal obligation: where I need to keep or share information to comply with the law

 

Where I process special category data, such as information about health or mental health, I also need an additional condition under UK GDPR. In most therapy contexts, this is likely to be because processing is necessary for the provision of health or social care, or because there is a substantial public interest, safeguarding or legal reason.

 

Where I ask for your consent for something specific, I will explain what I am asking for and you can withdraw that consent where applicable.

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Confidentiality

Therapy is confidential. I will not share what you tell me unless there is a clear reason to do so.

 

There are some limits to confidentiality. I may need to share information if:

• I believe there is a serious risk of harm to you or someone else

• there is a safeguarding concern involving a child, vulnerable adult or person at risk

• I am required to do so by law, court order or legal process

• disclosure is necessary to prevent or detect a serious crime

• there is a medical emergency and information is needed to protect life

• I need to consult my clinical supervisor, while protecting your identity as far as possible

 

Where possible, I would aim to discuss this with you before sharing information, unless doing so would increase risk or would not be possible.

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Supervision

Like other ethical therapists, I use clinical supervision to support safe and effective practice.

In supervision, I may discuss aspects of client work, but I will protect your identity as far as possible. My supervisor is also bound by confidentiality and professional standards.

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Clinical notes and records

I keep brief clinical notes to support safe and ethical therapy. These are usually factual, proportionate and relevant to the work.

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Clinical records may include:

• session dates

• brief themes discussed

• relevant risk, safeguarding or clinical information

• agreed actions or important decisions

• contact and administrative information

 

I do not aim to keep a full transcript of sessions.

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How long I keep information

I keep information only for as long as necessary.

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As a general guide:

• enquiry information may be deleted if we do not begin therapy, usually within 6–12 months

• client records are usually kept for 7 years after therapy ends

• financial records may be kept for at least 5 years for tax and accounting purposes

• emails, messages and administrative records are reviewed periodically and deleted when no longer needed

 

There may be times when I need to keep records for longer, for example where there are safeguarding, legal, insurance or complaint-related reasons.

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Where your information is stored

Your information may be stored in the following systems:

• Website/contact form: Wix / www.jbildtherapy.com

• Email: Gmail

• Practice management or client records: kept securely in-house

• Online sessions: Zoom

• Payments/invoicing: bank transfer (Monzo)

• Cloud storage or backup: Dropbox and Google Drive

• Phone/messages: SMS

 

I use appropriate technical and organisational measures to keep information secure. This may include password protection, device security, two-factor authentication, restricted access and secure storage.

 

Where I use external providers, they may process data on my behalf. I aim to use reputable providers with appropriate data protection and security arrangements.

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Online therapy

If we work online, sessions will take place using Zoom. I will take reasonable steps to protect confidentiality from my side, and I ask that you also choose a private space where you cannot easily be overheard or interrupted.

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Online platforms may process technical information such as IP address, device information or connection data. Please also check the privacy notice of the platform we use if you would like more detail.

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Outdoor therapy

I offer outdoor or walk-and-talk therapy where clinically appropriate.

 

If we meet outdoors, I will discuss confidentiality with you in advance. Outdoor therapy can be discreet, but it cannot guarantee the same level of privacy as a private therapy room. We will agree how to manage the possibility of seeing other people, being overheard, or needing to pause the conversation.

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AI tools, transcription and recording

I do not record, transcribe or use AI tools to process therapy sessions.

 

I may use digital tools for general practice administration, writing, planning or education, but I do not put identifiable client material into public AI tools.

 

If I ever propose using an AI tool, transcription tool or recording system in relation to therapy, I will discuss this with you first. I will explain what the tool does, what information it processes, where the data goes, what the risks are, and what alternatives are available.

 

I will not record or process therapy sessions through an AI tool without discussing this with you.

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Website visitors and cookies

When you visit www.jbildtherapy.com, some technical information may be collected automatically, such as your IP address, device type, browser type, pages visited and the time of your visit.

This may happen through website hosting, security, analytics or cookie tools.

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My website is hosted by Wix. The website may use cookies or similar technologies to make the site work, improve performance, understand visitor behaviour or support security.

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You can usually control cookies through your browser settings. If I use non-essential analytics or marketing cookies, the website should ask for your consent where required.

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Sharing your information

I will not share your personal information unless there is a clear reason to do so.

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I may share limited information with:

• my clinical supervisor

• professional advisers, such as an accountant, insurer or legal adviser

• my professional body, including BACP, if required in relation to a complaint or ethical matter

• safeguarding services, emergency services or your GP, where there is serious risk or safeguarding concern

• a court or legal authority, if required by law

• an appointed clinical executor if I die or become unable to contact clients myself

• trusted digital service providers who process data on my behalf

 

Where possible, I will share the minimum information necessary.

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Clinical will

I aim to have arrangements in place so that clients can be contacted if I die or become seriously incapacitated.

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This may involve a trusted professional colleague or clinical executor having access to limited information needed to contact current clients. That person would be bound by confidentiality and would only access the information if necessary.

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Your rights

Under UK data protection law, you have rights over your personal information.

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These may include the right to:

• be informed about how your data is used

• access a copy of your personal information

• ask for inaccurate information to be corrected

• ask for information to be deleted in some circumstances

• restrict or object to certain processing

• complain about how your information has been handled

 

Some rights are not absolute and may depend on the circumstances. For example, I may need to keep some information for legal, professional, safeguarding, insurance or complaint-related reasons.

 

If you would like to exercise your rights, please contact me using the details above. I will respond to a request about your rights within one month. If a request is particularly complex, I may need longer, in which case I will let you know.

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Data protection concerns and complaints

If you have a concern about how I have handled your personal information, please contact me first so I can try to resolve it.

 

You can raise a data protection concern by emailing me at:

joelbild@gmail.com

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Please include:

• your name

• what your concern is about

• what you would like me to look into

• how you would prefer me to respond

 

I will acknowledge your concern promptly and aim to respond fully within one month. I will investigate it without undue delay and keep you informed about the outcome.

 

If you are not satisfied with my response, or if you would prefer to contact the UK regulator directly, you can contact the Information Commissioner’s Office:

 

Information Commissioner’s Office
Website: www.ico.org.uk
Telephone: 0303 123 1113

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Changes to this privacy notice

I may update this privacy notice from time to time to reflect changes in my practice, legal requirements, professional guidance or the systems I use.

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The latest version will be available on my website.

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Disclaimer

This privacy notice is intended to explain how I handle personal information in my therapy practice. It does not constitute legal advice.

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This privacy notice should be read alongside any therapy agreement or working agreement used in the practice.